Today's Family & Kids Activities in Queens-Mar 16

March 16, 2013
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Daily activities for kids and the family are abound in Queens! Whether you want to spend the day with your children at a zoo, a museum, or just outdoors, we've got it all here. Making plans for next weekend for your family? Take a glance at the NY Metro Parents' calendar!

Experience high-energy, high-jinx, and hilarity when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Built To Amaze! The colorful circus comes into town as ringmaster Andre McClain, leads his funny and mischievous crew to construct The Greatest Show On Earth. A fantastic design with more than 110 of the world's best performers representing 17 countries along with 95 exotic and domestic animals will be assembled, creating never-before-seen heart-pounding performances. Clutch your heart as aerial athletes do seemingly impossible feats to the amazement of the crowd. Cheer for a New York City unicycle troupe that mixes a competitive game of basketball while riding their unicycles. This circus is one not to be missed. Amazing.

This workshop focuses on Flowers and Macro Photography. Kids, bring their own cameras and learn how to take better nature photos with QBG as their backdrop. Photographer H. David Stein will offer a slide show of examples, and offer pointers on light and composition. Workshops include approximately 45 minutes of outdoor photography followed by a critique of participants' work. Beginning photographers are welcome. Participants must bring their own camera. Registration required. See March 9 for other workshop.

Enjoy musical performances of the highest caliber from all parts of NYC. In their 5BMF debut, the unique ensemble offers a new program, exploring Medieval music of the Mediterranean, Balkans, and Middle East.

One Fish, Two Fish, let's celebrate! Children can read a selection of Dr. Seuss' most loved books in celebration of his birthday! After reading "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" in the museum's parlor, families will create fish to add to the "fishing pond." The more fish visitors create, the more fish everyone can catch and identify together! Families will also see the museum's koi pond, weather permitting.

See why Dorothy says no place like home. Enjoy this family-friendly classic, featuring Dorothy, Toto and all their friends,
and a company of over 40 performing one of the most memorable productions and singing such well known songs as Over the Rainbow and Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Parents can learn strategies for engaging their children during museum visits while exploring art materials and The Noguchi Museum galleries as a family. This program is for families with children ages 2-4. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Parents interested in acting for their children can turn their tiny turnip into a scintillating thespian. Children learn diction, poise, and creativity, all aspects used in acting, as well as everyday life. This program, which runs over 4 weekends, on Feb 23, March 2,9,and 16, gives children a sample of the full-length classes, which includes monologues, scenework, improv, and character development.

The Blarney Stone is a famous stone in Ireland that is thought to have a special power. Legend has it that if you kiss the Blarney Stone you will be given the gift of gab, also referred to as "Blarney Talk," and that you will become a very persuasive speaker. Come decorate your own Blarney Stone and test the legend out for yourself.

Kids will be up to their elbows in goop, guts, shaving cream and play-doh. It's the type of artistic activities that everyone loves, but not one likes to clean-up after. Except the museum staff. The afternoon will offer a variety of sensory activities for children ages 18 months to age 4.

The mission of Cirque du Soleil is to invoke the imagination, provokethe senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world. A fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind.
The world's most famous circus traces the human species from its amphibian state to its human desire to fly. Characters evolve on stage. This production traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations. Inspired by many founding myths, this show illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species.
The word "totem" contains the idea of the order of species. We carry in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire to fly --like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole.
Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Interested in making movies? Creative kids and film buffs alike can enjoy this experiential educational program seeking to provide students ages 11-15 with the opportunity to learn the art of documentary filmmaking with the guidance of industry professionals. Students will learn to identify various forms of documentary filmmaking ranging from MTV reality to the traditional narrative made popular by Ken Burns. Students will learn to develop a story idea all the way through to the interview, and learn to effectively use a video camera and proper sound recording. Lastly, students will edit footage and use soundtracks to further shape their story into a powerful, visual form. Kids with Cameras honors the great Hollywood Era Film Director Irving Rapper, who is interred at Maple Grove. Pre-registration required.

See why Dorothy says no place like home. Enjoy this family-friendly classic, featuring Dorothy, Toto and all their friends,
and a company of over 40 performing one of the most memorable productions and singing such well known songs as Over the Rainbow and Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Families can bring their food scraps (fruit and vegetable scraps; coffee grounds, including paper filter; tea bags; egg and nut shells; bread and pasta with no toppings) to the weekly food waste drop-off outside Queens Library at Sunnyside, Saturdays through March 23. The Western Queens Compost Initiative will turn them into nutrient-rich compost. No meat, dairy, bones, or oily foods, please.

Hippity-Hoppity, Easter is on it's way. Enjoy at visit with the Easter Bunny March 9 through March 30: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., Level 3, JCpenney Wing, for Photos and a Free Gift, while supplies last.
Peter will be working hard, and will need a little Bunny Break. See break schedule as follows:
Monday - Saturday: 2:15pm-2:45pm and 5:15pm-5:45pm;
Sunday: 2:15pm-3pm.

Lovers of modern art can enjoy this exhibit through the month of March which features works by 2013 Emerging Artists, who were selected by the Museum to produce outdoor artworks within the Park. These artisits are making public sculptures, which are reflective of the time, subtly mysterious, and visually compelling.

The mission of Cirque du Soleil is to invoke the imagination, provokethe senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world. A fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind.
The world's most famous circus traces the human species from its amphibian state to its human desire to fly. Characters evolve on stage. This production traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations. Inspired by many founding myths, this show illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species.
The word "totem" contains the idea of the order of species. We carry in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire to fly - like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole.
Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Larry Lederman, landscape photographer and member of NYBG's Board of Advisors, has spent years walking the garden grounds to observe and photograph trees and vistas in all seasons and at all times of day. Lush images featuring their diversity and visual impact are on view in the gallery space.
The New York Botanical Garden is home to more than 30,000 trees, some in woodland, some in groves, and some standing in solitary majesty. Magnificent Trees is lavishly illustrated with photographs by Larry Lederman and accompanied by descriptions by Todd A. Forrest, Arthur Ross vice president for horticulture and living collections at the garden. An authority on the diverse species present across the 250-acre landscape, Forrest details their fascinating histories -- from their vital role in Native American life and culture to their function in neutral territory during the Revolutionary War. Lederman captures their grandeur in hundreds of stunning images and portrays their diversity with photographs that reveal the trees in myriad fascinating perspectives: in landscape views that convey the garden's genius loci; portraits illustrating the architecture and profound visual impact of select trees; remarkable details of flowers, fruit, leaves, and bark; and impressionistic images, abstract in character yet beautiful in composition.

Find out how the physics of gravity, force, velocity and balance make radical tricks possible in action sports in this program that runs through April 22. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The 11th annual exhibition celebrates this storied flower in all its amazing forms with thousands of brilliantly colored orchids. The largest exhibition of its kind in the United States also offers insight into caring for orchids, music from around the world, and a gorgeous setting for evening cocktails.
Elaborate and kaleidoscopic displays throughout the galleries of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory explode with orchids in an amazing array of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Tens of thousands of blooms -- blue and purple vandas, green and yellow cymbidiums, delicate pink and white moth orchids, and more -- stand out amid stately palms and exotic tropical leaves.
This year, The Orchid Show is designed by Francisca P. Coelho, Vivian and Edward Merrin Vice President for Glasshouses and Exhibitions at the Garden. Coehlho is best known for her plantsmanship and key role in the design and development of high profile shows in the Conservatory.
There will be demonstrations, Q&A's, guided tours, lectures, evening events, and classes. An All-Garden Pass includes admission to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children's Adventure Garden, Rock Garden, Tram Tour, and more. Through April 22.

Explore the science of what's eating you in this skin-crawling
exhibition. Examine the what, why, when and how of mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, leeches and other parasites known as sanguinivores (creatures that eat blood). Learn why bloodsuckers are important to the ecosystem and how to keep them out of your system. Attack of the Bloodsuckers! offer visitors the chance to look a real leech in the mouth; pull off your socks and test your bug-appealing foot odor; receive a big hug from a giant, inflating tick; get itchy and knotty with the life-size game of "Twitcher" - a buggy variation on the game Twister. This exhibition runs through May 5, 2013.

Bring the family out every Saturday and make a splash at the wonderful Aquatic Center! Family swim is a great way for the family to have fun and/or exercise. Come and spend quality time together, and enjoy the water toys!

GUIDES TO OUR REGIONS

Hiking in the great outdoors and rock climbing -- whether indoors or out -- are both wonderful opportunities for families to exercise together while having fun. And though both sports have their risks, even young children can be successful and safe with the right planning and preparation. Check out our roundup of articles below for all you need to know before going hiking or climbing with your kids in the New York City area (and beyond!).

About Us

NYMetroParents is the parenting division of Davler Media Group and encompasses 9 regional print magazines within the greater NY metro region as well as the website (nymetroparents.com). Following the success of the first NYC parenting resource book, "Big Apple Baby," BIG APPLE PARENT was launched in 1985; it is now the largest publisher of regional parenting content in the United States.